Hiker Headlines: Trailhead Direct, North Cascades Highway Opens, Fire at Hurricane Ridge Lodge

It’s May 11. Trailhead Direct is returning for another summer of transit to trails. The North Cascades Highway is open after being closed for the winter. The Heart O’ The Hills campground is partially reopening. The Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge was destroyed in a fire. And, a plan has been approved to help restore Puget Sound and protect Tribal treaty rights. Here’s some news you might have missed while out on trail this week.

The North Cascades Highway has been cleared of snow. Photo by the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Trailhead Direct: Trailhead Direct is back for 2023! Service begins this weekend on Saturday, May 13, and runs through Labor Day. The service will have stops at the Capitol Hill Link light rail station, downtown Seattle and the trailheads for Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe and Little Si. Interested in taking action to help bring more transit to trails and make the outdoors more accessible? Sign WTA's petition in support of the Transit to Trails Act, which aims to fund transportation projects to connect more communities to trailheads and public lands.

North Cascades Highway: The North Cascades Highway, Highway 20, is back open after the winter season! Ready to head out into the mountains? Be prepared for plenty of snow on trail, and be sure to file a trip report after your hike so other hikers know what to expect.

Heart O’ The Hills: The Heart O’ The Hills campground will partially reopen on May 19. The rest of the campground and the Heart O’ The Forest trail will stay closed through June as construction continues. 

Hurricane Ridge fire: On May 7, the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge in Olympic National Park was destroyed by fire. The lodge had been closed for large renovation projects. No one was reported to be in the building at the time of the fire. The fire caused significant damage to the building, with park officials determining that it “appears to be a complete loss.” The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated. Due to the fire, the reopening of Hurricane Ridge Road has been delayed. Olympic National Park plans to provide a timeline for the reopening of the road in early June.

Protecting Puget Sound and treaty rights: The Forest Service met with the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force recently, where they approved a 5-year federal plan to care for and rehabilitate Puget Sound and protect the treaty rights of local tribes. Projects include salmon recovery and the restoration of watersheds and aquatic habitats.

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